Experts Warn Diquat in Roundup Could Pose Health Risks
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A recent scientific review is raising questions about the safety of Roundup, even after Bayer removed glyphosate from its residential formulas.
Bayer began reformulating Roundup products in 2023, replacing glyphosate with alternative herbicides like diquat. Researchers warn that this substitute may carry its own serious health risks.
A review published in Frontiers in Pharmacology analyzed toxicology data on diquat. The findings linked the chemical to gut microbiome disruption, inflammation and potential long-term damage to the liver, kidneys and lungs.
“From a human health perspective, this stuff is quite a bit nastier than glyphosate so we’re seeing a regrettable substitution, and the ineffective regulatory structure is allowing it,” Nathan Donley, science director with the Center for Biological Diversity, told The Guardian in an interview.
Researchers Warn of Negative Health Effects
Diquat is a fast-acting contact herbicide that has been used in agriculture and is banned in several countries. It kills plants by damaging cell membranes and triggering oxidative stress, a mechanism that could also impact the human body.
The Frontiers in Pharmacology review found that diquat can:
- Damage your gut
- Lead to organ damage
- Reduce levels of beneficial bacteria like Lactobacillus
- Trigger increased inflammation in the body
Researchers emphasized the lack of testing around chronic, low-dose human exposure, including the kind that might occur through home use.
Same Packaging, Different Chemical Risks
Consumer advocacy groups have raised concerns about Bayer’s reformulated Roundup products. Although glyphosate has been removed from residential formulas, the packaging remains nearly identical.
Experts fear that homeowners may be unaware they are using a new chemical with different safety instructions since the packaging hasn’t noticeably changed. Diquat, for example, is not recommended for use around food crops.
A statement on Bayer’s website said the company removed glyphosate from consumer products “exclusively to manage litigation risk and not because of any safety concerns.”
Glyphosate Litigation Still Active
Although glyphosate is being phased out of Roundup sold in retail stores, lawsuits over past exposure remain active. Bayer acquired Roundup’s original manufacturer, Monsanto, in 2018 and has faced more than 170,000 lawsuits tied to glyphosate-based Roundup products.
Plaintiffs allege that long-term exposure caused non-Hodgkin lymphoma and other cancers.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says that glyphosate isn’t likely to cause cancer or other health issues in humans when used as directed. However, the World Health Organization’s International Agency for Research on Cancer said that glyphosate is a probable human carcinogen in 2015.
This guidance has helped fuel nearly a decade of litigation.
